RA NA Speaker Alen Simonyan, who is in Istanbul on a working visit, delivered a speech at the 152nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). “Armenpress”presents the speech in full.
“Madam President,
Your Excellencies,
Dear colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is a great honor for me to accept Turkey’s invitation and speak on behalf of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia at the 152nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. I would like to point out that the importance of the topic under discussion: “Instilling hope, ensuring peace and guaranteeing justice for future generations” is difficult to overestimate. Let me state an obvious truth. a flourishing present and future are built on the foundations of hope, peace and justice.
In the case of Armenia, it is this idea that forms our policy and directs our actions. We strive for a future where everyone will have equal opportunities for social and economic well-being.
But who just dreams of a better future and who actually builds it? Future generations cannot build the world they will inherit. At best, they can only trust us to act prudently on their behalf.
Hope sustains our desire for justice and our ability to trust. Our actions today should serve to build that trust. Future generations must believe that the peace we are building today is lasting.
Make no mistake. the cracks in our world are deep and serious. We are deeply concerned about the situation in Iran, and my prayers are addressed to the people of Iran. The crisis in Lebanon cannot be ignored either. Certainly, the test before us is difficult. But who, if not us, has the power and moral obligation to heal our world?
Armenia fully accepts its responsibility.
After the agreement signed by the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and the USA in 2025, peace reigns in our region. This is truly a great achievement. But our vision is broader. We invite Turkey to become a partner and join us in weaving the fabric of peace. For this purpose, we are ready to deepen our relations with Turkey.
After decades of mistrust and enmity, a new era of trust formation between Armenia and Azerbaijan has begun. Efforts to consolidate this progress are now focused on strengthening communications and ensuring that peace is effectively made a reality on the ground.
Implementation of the “Trump Path for International Peace and Prosperity” (TRIPP) project is another important milestone. This initiative aims to simultaneously develop regional ties and expand international trade routes.
Based on the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and jurisdiction, TRIPP has the potential to promote stability, economic cooperation and prosperity in the South Caucasus and beyond.
The encouraging signs of regulation are undeniable. For the first time in years, the trade between Armenia and Azerbaijan has started to take shape. The import of Azerbaijani products to Armenia is a symbolic and practical step in terms of restoring economic ties. These are the outcomes of peace—tangible improvements that directly benefit our people.
At the same time, there are still serious humanitarian problems that need to be solved. In order to continue building trust and achieve real reconciliation, the 19 Armenians held in Azerbaijan must be released and reunited with their families, and the fates of the other missing persons must be clarified.
Dear colleagues,
Now is the time to set priorities, and for the sake of future generations, we must choose them wisely. And who are the next generations? They are our children and grandchildren. It is our sacred duty to be worthy of them by leaving a legacy not of war but of peace.
Thank you.”
